The Hafez and Hammer-Purgstall Cultural Association, founded and directed by Hassan Javaheri, is an intellectual, philosophical, scientific, and cultural network without borders. It has been shaped through the collaboration of Iranian scholars residing in Austria, along with the support of European (particularly Austrian) scientists, thinkers, and cultural figures. The Association’s mission is to foster dialogue, critical reflection, and cooperation in the fields of philosophy, Iranian studies, and Persian language and literature, while also promoting stronger cultural relations between Iran and Austria.

The Association currently operates through several main departments, each dedicated to a specific field of intellectual, cultural, artistic, or literary activity. Among these, the Iranian Wisdom House in Vienna stands out as the leading department for philosophical and scientific initiatives. It is headed by Dr. Reza Gholami, senior lecturer in political philosophy and cultural and civilizational studies, and faculty member at the Research Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies in Tehran. Under his direction, the Iranian Wisdom House has become a hub for academic discussions and philosophical dialogue, with many of its events held in English and accessible online to an international audience.

Other cultural, artistic, and literary activities of the Association are organized through its additional departments, which contribute to the broader mission of deepening cultural understanding and preserving humanistic values worldwide. The Association’s events are hosted in various venues—universities, cultural centers, libraries, and cafés—and often take place in the Avicenna Hall of the Iranian Cultural Representation in Austria, which also provides moral and financial support.

Remaining free of ideological or political affiliations, the Hafez and Hammer-Purgstall Cultural Association bases its work on wisdom, rationality, fairness, and ethics, with a strong commitment to respecting Austrian laws and values.